In the debate over the better machine between Dyson Ball Animal Origin vs Animal 3, the following article is my humble opinion. After experiencing both products, I found Dyson Ball Animal 3 to be superior.
Dyson Ball Animal 3 won my heart thanks to the design of the cleaner head. Unlike previous versions, the new design allows the vacuum cleaner to wriggle into smaller nooks and crannies, better pick up large debris, move more smoothly on the carpet, and especially can resist tangles. With powerful suction strength, this machine really outperforms its competitors.
Dyson Ball Animal Origin is still a good choice. It is best suited for cleaning hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its super-large dust container allows users to comfortably clean from place to place without emptying the bin regularly. Plus, a cleaning range of up to 50 ft gives you many other great experiences.
Dyson Ball Animal Origin vs Animal 3: Comparison Chart
Dyson Ball Animal Origin vs Animal 3: Differences
After weighing the differences between these two vacuums, I found that Dyson Ball Animal 3 won 2:0 and tied one against Dyson Ball Animal Origin. Read the breakdown below to learn more about the pros and cons of each machine.
Cleaning Performance
The winner: Dyson Ball Animal 3
Compatible floor type
Dyson Ball Animal 3 can work well with many types of surfaces, such as hardwood floors, tile floors, low pile carpets, medium pile carpets, high pile carpets, shag carpets, and so on. Unlike Dyson’s previous model, the cleaner head of Dyson Ball Animal 3 has an upgraded design. The new cleaner head has smaller cleaning path width, which actually gives you more options when maneuvering the unit in tight spaces. Also, this machine is equipped with adjustable gates at the front, which makes it so much better for moving on very dense carpets and picking up larger debris.
I tested its cleaning performance by letting it suck up sand, sugar, rice, cereal, and full-size Froot Loops. As a result, whether on hard floors or carpets, the machine can clear more than 99% of the dirt. I am truly impressed with its phenomenal performance. The adjustable gates really work. There is a switch at the top of the cleaner head that allows the user to select one of three settings. The highest setting allows you to roll the vacuum easily on thick carpets. The lowest setting is perfect for picking up dirt on bare floors and low-pile carpets.
With Dyson Animal Ball Origin, the machine works best with hard floors. It still does a great job on low- and medium-pile carpets. It is just difficult to roll on shag carpets only. Unlike the Ball Animal 3, this vacuum comes with a self-adjusting cleaner head. Specifically, there is a baseplate at the bottom of the head, which can move up and down depending on certain types of flooring. When you place the main nozzle on the floor, it will change the height to match other floor types. Therefore, this machine allows users to vacuum continuously without stopping halfway to adjust the cleaner head height.
However, because it is self-adjusting, it’s quite hard to roll the Ball Animal Origin on very thick carpets as well as pick up full-size Froot Loops. In addition, the strong suction also makes the machine tend to suck on the carpet, so you need to put a lot of effort into pulling and pushing the machine.
Pet hair performance
In my opinion, Dyson Ball Animal 3 is a suitable choice for pet owners. It has strong suction, and the cleaner head is great for many types of surfaces, so picking up fur and hair is relatively easy.
In particular, this vacuum cleaner has another big upgrade on the cleaner head, which is called the “Active hair removal system.” There is a range of de-tangling vanes that act to comb out the hair and reduce hair tangles as you vacuum. That way, you no longer have to untangle the hair wrapped around the brush bar whenever you’re done vacuuming.
Dyson Ball Animal Origin also picks up pet hair pretty well, but it is not equipped with an anti-tangle function. As a result, even though it picks up all the pet hair from the floor, a large amount is tightly wrapped around the brush bar, and you need to clean all this stuff manually. Usually, you just need to pull out the tangled curls by hand, and if the hair wraps too tight, you can use scissors to cut it off. If necessary, you can remove the baseplate for better access to the roller. The details on cleaning and maintaining the brush bar are available in the manual.
Suction strength
In this aspect, Dyson Ball Animal 3 has stronger suction power than Dyson Ball Animal Origin.
According to Dyson, the Ball Animal 3’s suction power in boost mode is about 290 AW, while the Ball Animal Origin’s is 235 AW. As I have researched, Airwatt (AW) refers to the number of watts a vacuum cleaner uses to carry a unit of air through an opening or nozzle. The higher the air watts, the higher the suction power.
As for what I can measure, the airflow at the hose of Dyson Ball Animal 3 is about 84 CFM, and that of Dyson Ball Animal Origin is about 81 CFM. The airflow is the movement of air from one location to another. By far, this is still one of the most important specifications used to evaluate the cleaning ability of a vacuum cleaner. The higher the airflow, the stronger the suction strength.
One thing that I really like about Dyson Ball Animal 3 is that I don’t have to sacrifice much suction when opening all the gates. Even if I leave the gates open at the highest setting, the suction power is still equivalent to Animal 2.
Dirt bin and filtration
The winner: Dyson Ball Animal Origin
Dirt bin
These machines use a hygienic bin to store dirt. This bin is made from clear plastic that allows the user to see the inside easily. The material used for the bin is very sturdy and highly shock-resistant. It is also home to the Radial Root Cyclone™ system, which generates powerful suction and simultaneously pulls allergens out of the air.
The Radial Root Cyclone™ system generates strong centrifugal force to separate dirt and particles from the air and toss them into the dirt bin. All dirt, pet hair, bacteria, and mold are captured, giving users clear, filtered air. This Dyson system is patented for its ability to capture more dirt than any other type of cyclonic model.
Both machines have a relatively large dirt bin capacity. However, the bin of Dyson Ball Animal Origin is larger than that of Dyson Ball Animal 3. The larger the dust bin, the less emptying is required. There is a max level located halfway up the bin. You need to empty the bin as soon as the dirt reaches the max level since using the machine when the dirt is above the max line may affect the performance and require washing the filter more frequently.
To empty the dirt bin, press the button on the handle of the canister to detach the bin from the vacuum body. Hold the bin over a trash can and push the button on the bin handle until the bottom lid opens; then, all the dirt will fall out. When you dump the rubbish, dirt will stick to the baffles at the bottom of the bin, so you need to clean those places from time to time. Besides, you also need to pay attention to cleaning the cyclone inside the bin not to reduce the suction power.
Filtration
Both machines share the same filtration system, which is able to trap 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns, such as mold, bacteria, pollen, etc. The system is, therefore, certified asthma and allergy friendly by the asthma and allergy foundation of America in their seal of approval.
Each system comes with two filters, one in the dirt bin and the other in the ball. Both are easy to access and washable, so you don’t need to spend money to maintain or replace them. Dyson recommends that users only wash the filters with cold water and let them dry for at least 24 hours before putting them back into the vacuum. Depending on each person’s needs and frequency of use, the filter cleaning cycle will be different.
To remove the first filter, push the catch on the front of the dirt bin’s handle and lift the filter. To remove the filter inside the ball, turn the lock in the center of the ball until the filter cover is released. Next, lift off the filter cover, turn the filter counter-clockwise until it releases, and lift it out. All instructions for removing and cleaning the filter are in the manual, so just follow them.
Design and convenience
The winner: Dyson Ball Animal 3
Build quality
Both machines are reasonably well-built. Although they are all made mainly of plastic, they are still very strong-built overall. Compared to the Dyson Ball Animal Origin, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 features a redesigned cleaner head that dramatically improves build quality. The Ball Animal 3 has a sturdier head and uses a thicker brush with dense nylon stiffs.
Besides, the dust compartment looks flimsy but is actually made of the same material used in football helmets as well as riot gear.
Assembling these devices is also pretty simple. The manufacturer uses a series of easy-clip mechanisms for the user to attach the parts. However, you seem to need to assemble quite a few parts when you take them out of the box.
Maneuverability
These two vacuum cleaners are easy to maneuver. Both machines are equipped with the Ball™ Technology, which is ergonomically designed to allow the unit to move more flexibly around furniture. By assembling the parts of the vacuum cleaner into a spherical array, with the heaviest part near the floor, the manufacturer created a curved body with a low center of gravity. The spherical shape allows the machine to turn easily at one point, resulting in more flexible movements.
It may take some time at first to get used to the movement of the “ball,” and once you are familiar with it, you’ll feel the machine’s amazing versatility. It not only lets you wriggle around furniture smoothly but into tight nooks and crannies. With the Dyson Ball Animal 3, the cleaner head is designed to be smaller, so it’s even easier to get into the smallest spaces.
In terms of weight, both machines weigh 17.3 pounds, which is quite heavy. In return, their size is fairly compact and only takes up very small spaces in your kitchen.
Range
These machines have the same cleaning range. They both offer a 35-ft power cord, which is rather long compared to most other upright vacuums I’ve reviewed in the past. Additionally, they all have a 15-ft long hose that makes cleaning the stairs easier. You just need to put the machine at the bottom of the stairs and clean each step from the bottom up. I was surprised because when I reached the top of the stairs, the unit was still standing and did not tip over. This is due to the machine’s weight and firm footprint.
Thus, each device provides users with 50 feet of maximum reach. Long cords and hoses, plus a large dirt bin capacity, can explain their somewhat heavy weight.
Noise level
As you know, all upright vacuums make noise, and these two are no exception. According to what I measured, the noise level of Dyson Ball Animal 3 is about 75.6 dB, while the noise level of Dyson Ball Animal Origin is 83 dB. As such, the Animal 3 is quieter than the Animal Origin.
Both machines have higher-than-average noise levels. Remember that the specifications I have measured are not objective and are for reference only. 75.6 decibels is not too loud but also not considered quiet. You won’t be able to talk on the phone when someone in the room is using a vacuum cleaner, which makes a noise like this.
At 83 decibels, it’s comparable to the sound of car traffic noise. Exposure to this type of sound for more than 8-10 hours per day will harm your hearing. However, in terms of being a vacuum cleaner with a large capacity, such a noise level is still acceptable.
Quick Rundown Of Dyson Ball Animal 3
- Removes dirt, allergens and pet hair around your home. Easily tackles big messes.
- Automatically clears wrapped hair from the brush bar as you clean.
- Navigate around obstacles with a simple turn of the wrist. For easy, precise maneuvering around your home.
- Select the right cleaning mode for the right task. Optimized for a variety of floor types, for complete control over your clean.
- Stair tool and combination tool
Quick Rundown Of Dyson Ball Animal Origin
- Engineered for larger homes with pets: Removes dirt, allergens & pet hair around your home. Easily tackles big messes. Whole home deep cleaning for all floor types: Short, stiff bristles allow deep carpet penetration to remove dirt, while maintaining performance on your hard floors.
- Flexible floor to ceiling cleaning: Hose & wand release in one click, stretching 15 feet to clean stairs & hard-to-reach spaces. Automatically adjusts to your flooring: The vacuum features a self-adjusting cleaner head that accommodates carpeting of different heights, as well as hard floors, sealing in suction.
- Pioneering Radial Root Cyclone technology: Increases suction & helps remove dirt & allergens from your home.
- Ball technology: Navigate around obstacles with a simple turn of the wrist. For easy, precise maneuvering around your home. Advanced, whole-machine filtration: Whole-machine filtration ensures that allergens are trapped inside the machine, not expelled back into the home.
- Bagless design: Simply push a button to release dirt from the hygienic bin. [Reusable Cleaning Cellulose Sponge Cloths, one cloths per order & Colors may vary.]
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References:
- Dyson Ball Animal 3: https://www.dyson.com/vacuum-cleaners/uprights/ball-animal-3/nickel
Victor K. Giles is a leading consultant and expert in vacuum cleaner technology with over a decade of experience. As a mechanical engineering graduate in the University of Michigan, he specializes in product development, design optimization, and performance analysis. Victor collaborates with manufacturers and educates consumers, making her a sought-after guest speaker at industry events. His work has been featured in renowned publications, and he shares his expertise on his blog, “The Vacuum Teria”. Victor’s passion for cleaner, healthier living spaces drives his to help clients choose the best vacuum solutions for their needs.